Cut-out.



PATENTED NOV. 6, 1906.

R. PLEMING.

GUT-QUT,` APPLICATION FILED A PR.30,19Q31 2 SHEETS-SHEET l...

/NVENTO/Q Richard F/em/ ng bymgy.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

EiCHARD ELEMINC., vor LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIGNoR To GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OE NEW YORK.

CUT-OUT.

Specification of Letters Patent. l

` Patented Nov.' 6, 1906.

Application filed April 30, 1903. Serial Nn. 154,959.

'.1'0 a//Z whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD FLEMING, a citizen of the United States, residing atLynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain' new and useful Improvements in Cut-Outs, of which the following is a specication.

The present invention relates to cut-out devices for electric circuits, and more especially to such as are adapted for use in connection with arc-lamp hangers.

' The obj ect ofthe invention is' to provide a simple and highly-eilicient cut-out device which may be used upon high-potential circuits `and operated with entire safety and in which the several parts are so arranged that atmospheric moisture cannot lodge between them.

The' invention will be readily understood upon reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawin s, forming a part of this specification, in whic -A Figure, 1 is an elevation of a'n arc-lamp hanger provided with a cut-out embodying one form of my invention. Fig'. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of .the insulating hanger-block. Fig. 3 is a top plan of the hanger-block with the cut-out parts shown in closed position thereon. Fig. 4 is a similar view with the switch-plug remoyed and Figs. 5 andv 6 are side and end views of the retainingwing 4, held in the lower end of theinner switchlug.

In the appl) ir the accom` anying drawin s a metallic bell-shaped ho der 1 is rovide( in which the parts ofthe ut-out an their insulating-base 2 are housed. The insulating-base orhangerblock 2 is preferably of a single piece of porcelain having a circular shoulder 3 near its lower end 4w iich is adapted to engage a bell-shaped holder 1 by screws 5. The uplper surface of the block 2 is in'a plane at an angle Vof about thirty degrees to the plane of the shoulder 3 and is provided with a recess 6 of substantially uniform depth and opening outwardly at the lowermost oint 7 thereof for the reception of the switc -plug 8 and the Contact parts. is secured to the upper surface of the block 2 b `screws so that the current-eneaeinff b 27 b parts are completely surrounded by insulal tieni@ The opening 7 between the opposlte ication of my invention shown A platel of insulation 33 .permit the plug 8 to be passed therethrough with a certain amount of clearance, and atabout the middle 'of the cavity the sidewalls project inwardly at 9 9, partially dividing the cavity into two compartments.

In the lower compartment of the cavity 6 are located the spiral-spring contacts 1() 10 of the lamp-circuit, which are. carried at ,the upper ends of angularly-displaced rods 11 11', extending vertically through the block 2 and provided at their lower ends with bindin -posts 12 for the branch wires.

In t 1e up er compartment of the cavity 6 are locate. the spring-pressed contacts 13 13 of the main circuit. These contacts are formed by longitudinall bendin sheet-y metal punchings into'U s ape, so t at each Contact comprises two blades 14 and 15, connected at one side by a vertical web 16, and

they are pivoted at their lower ends on an-` gularly-displaced rods 17 17',l extending vertically through the block 2 and provided with binding-posts 18 for the line-wires. The actuating-sprinuslQ areattached at one end to and surround the ends of the rods 17 17 between the blades 14 and 15 and are conv nected at the opposite ends to pins 20, carried by the blades 14 and `15 near their free ends. The lower blades 15 are somewhat longer than the upper blades 14 and are arranged to make contact with a stationary metallic strip 21, lying at the bottom of the4 cavity 6 and rovided at its lower end with stops 22 'for b ades 13 and 13 and bent up at its upper endand connected by a screw 23 to ,9o

the wall of the recess.

The switch-plug 8 is a bar 'of insulation of rectangular section provided at its outer end with a handle or knot and at its inner end with a transverse groove t o clear the head'o 9 the screw 23 and engage the Wall of the cav' v ity on both sides thereof and a shallow longitudinal groove 24 on its under side to clear the strip 21 and stops 22, and on its opposite 25 The bell-shaped holder '1 is provided with a suitable aperture at one side near its lower edge for the passage therethrough of the plug 8, as indicated in Fig. 1, on its opposite side with a bracket 26, to which is connectedthe cross-arm 27, and at 4its top is a supportmgbolt 28,-provided with an insulatqr 29 and edges are secured metallic contact-plates 25 roo @La @E clamp 30.' The block -2 is provided with an axial aperture for a bolt 31, which supports the lamp-hook 32.

When the switch-plug 8 is Withdrawn, the arts will assumet e position indicated in ig. 4, with the line-contacts 13 and 13 in electrical'contact with each other through the stationary strip 21, while the lamp-contacts 10 10 remain out of contact. When the plug 8 is inserted, it engages the contacts 1() 10 and force,f 'hein outwardly against the described that in case an arc should forni be- Y tween the line-contacts on making or breaking the circuit it would be prevented by the insulating-walls of' the nearly-inclosed cavity from reaching the metal holder, and by reason of the distance of' theline-contacts from the plug-a erture it cannot reach the opera torwhen t 1e plug is withdrawn. Moreover, by mounting the switch parts upon the sloping surface of the block any ymoisture that might he driven into the lower end of the plug-opening will run down and out instead o' lodging .between the contact varts.

l do not desire to Arestrict myse l to the par ticular construction or arrangement of the parts shown in the drawingaior it is evident that they may be changed and inoclied without departing from my invention.

'What claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination of a base, a pair of branch contacts, a contact-strip and a pair of line-contacts normally in'engagement with said contact-strip mounted on said base, and a switch-plug having contact-plates secured to two of its faces adgapted to be inserted between the respective members of both pairs of contacts.

' 2. The combination of a base provided with a cavity in its upper surface,A a pair et normally closed line-contacts and a pair of branch contacts mounted therein, and a switch-plug .comprising a bar of insulation. with contact-plates secured to two of' its faces adapted to be inserted between the respective members of both pairs of contacts to close the circuit through the branch a-nd provide a barrier between the line-contacts.

3. The combination of a supporting-shell provided with an a `erture near its lower edge, an insulatingase supported within said shelll and having its upper surface at an oblique angle to its axis, electric contacts mounted upon the upper surface of said base, and a switch-plug adapted to be thrust through said aperture and into engagement with said contacts.

In witness whereof l have `hereunto set my hand this` 28th day of April, 1903.

RHfllAll) FIClVllNG, Vitnesses:

Ducato Meli. lvlclilttor, JenN A. MoN/inns. 

